Leipzig, May 6, 2021 – An innovative strategic focus, exemplary employee leadership and a forward-looking corporate culture with excellent key financial numbers – these were the criteria that led VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG to be judged the winner of the Axia Best Managed Companies Award 2021. The award is a seal of approval awarded annually by Deloitte, the WirtschaftsWoche magazine, Credit Suisse and the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) to medium-sized companies that are judged to be outstandingly well managed. Following an earlier award for VERBIO in 2009, this is the second time that the bioenergy manufacturer has been able to convince the jury, made up of respected representatives from business, science and the media, of its excellent achievements. The previous time VERBIO won this award it was a winner in the “Innovation management” category.
Award crowns VERBIO’s successful development path
VERBIO reported record numbers in its annual report 2019/2020. VERBIO generated an EBITDA of EUR 122 million and sales revenues of EUR 872.4 million, as well as increasing its production to 796,411 tonnes of biodiesel and bioethanol and 784 gigawatt hours of biomethane. Even in the context of the corona pandemic, this successful path continued with the VERBIO share being included in the SDAX from December 2020. And just today VERBIO has reported positive figures for the current financial year and has corrected the earnings forecast upwards. These figures reflect the innovation power of VERBIO and its strategic vision. The “Axia Best Managed Company Award” underlines the fact that the bioenergy manufacturer also distinguishes itself with excellent employee leadership and an excellent business culture.
Claus Sauter, CEO of VERBIO, commented: “We view winning the Axia Best Managed Company Award as a special appreciation and recognition of the social responsibility that we take on with our contribution to climate protection in the transport sector.” He added: “VERBIO’s particular DNA is a combination of an engaged, international team and a clear global growth strategy, which is aimed at innovative products, profitability and the sustainable use of natural resources. It is the key factor behind our commercial success in all four dimensions of the award.”
Team spirit and inventive spirit as key to success
“We receive this award on behalf of the entire VERBIO team,” said Theodor Niesmann, member of the Management Board for Biodiesel, plant engineering and human relations, referring to the engagement of the Group’s employees who number around 800 worldwide. “The technical competence, engagement, innovative ingenuity, flexibility and increasingly international nature of our workforce are most important success factors. Transparent communication and a culture of open feedback, a fair remuneration system, flexible working-time arrangements and employee loyalty programmes ensure a high level of identification and contribute to low employee turnover. The know-how of each and every employee is enormously important and must be kept in the business for the long term,” continued Niesmann. This strategy is a source of strength in the battle against the shortage of skilled workers.
Axia Best Managed Companies Award honours excellent “Mittelstand” businesses
The award was presented personally to the two members of the VERBIO Management Board at a ceremony held at VERBIO’s corporate headquarters in Leipzig. Prior to winning the award, VERBIO needed to prove itself in a three-stage qualifying process. Independent experts made up of renowned representatives from business, science and the media awarded the bioenergy company top marks in the categories of strategy, governance and finance, productivity and innovation, and culture and commitment.
“From developing forward-looking strategies and innovative processes through to effective corporate governance structures and a healthy corporate culture, like all other winners of the Axia Best Managed Companies Award, VERBIO demonstrates business excellence – and once again it sets standards in all key areas of corporate governance,” highlighted Lutz Meyer, Partner and Head of Deloitte Private.
The Axia Best Managed Companies programme is a competition organised by Deloitte Private, the WirtschaftsWoche business magazine, Credit Suisse and the Federal Association of German Industry, and is a recognised seal of approval for successful medium-sized businesses. The objective of the four organisers is to establish a national and global ecosystem for excellently managed medium-sized businesses. The international nature of the programme gives it its unique character; it was founded in the 1990s by Deloitte in Canada, and it has since been introduced successfully in more than 30 countries.
Theodor Niesmann (COO of VERBIO AG) and Claus Sauter (CEO of VERBIO AG) received the Axia Best Managed Companies Award from Andreas Otter and Thomas Sauer (Deloitte Leipzig)
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